Automatic starter for motor vehicles



AUTOMATIC ,STARTER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed ,-Au'g. 21,y` 1933 ofbakelite washers 37 on opposite sides of the casing wall. The free endof the switch arm 35 is adapted to be return bent as at 38 and isprovided with an insulating block 39 adapted to be engaged by a curvedportion of the latch lever 25. Formed on the switch arm 35 is a contact40 adapted to engage a contact 41 secured to the side wall of the casing5 by means of a nut 42 and insulated by means of bakelite washers 43positioned on opposite sides of the housing. Directly above the contact40 on the switch arm 35 is a similar contact 44 adapted to engage astationary contact 45 secured to the side wall of the casing and held inplace by nuts 46 and insulated from the casing by suitable insulatingwashers 47. It `will be noted that the switch arm 35 is so positioned asto be engaged by the latch lever 25 to move said switch arm 35 intoengagement with the contacts 4l and 45 consecutively.

The lower end of the solenoid armature 22 extends through an opening inthe bottom Wall '7 of the casing and into the diaphragm chamber 49comprising an upper cup-shaped element 50 and a lower cup-shaped element51 secured together by a return flange 52 extending over an annular ange53 formed on the lower cupshaped element 51. Interposed between theconnections 52 and 53 is a diaphragm 54 forming a vacuum chamber 55there below. The upper element 50 is connected to the bottom wall 7 ofthe casing by means of suitable rivets 56 provided with an opening 57for allowing the free movement of the solenoid armature 22. Extendingthrough the diaphragm 54 is a screw 58 anchored in the lower end of thesolenoid armature 22 so that the armature and diaphragm 54 will move inunison.

A ilexible pipe may be connected to the screw threaded boss 59 formedcentrally on the lower cup-shaped element 51 so that the opposite endthereof may be connected to the intake manifold of the motor vehiclewhereupon suction created by the operation of the engine will createsuction in the chamber 55 and cause the movement y of the diaphragm 54in a downward direction.

It is intended to connect one terminal of the usual motor vehiclestorage battery to the switch arm anchoring post 36 so that current mayflow through the switch arm 35 and through the contacts 40 and 41 whenthe switch arm 35 is in its closed position so that the lead lines 60establish electrical communication between the storage battery and thesolenoid 22 while the lead line 61 may be connected to the opposite endof the solenoid 21 to a binding post 62 suitably insulated from thecasing 5 by bakelite washers64. The binding post 62 may be connected tothe generator of the motor vehicle by means of a suitable lead line (notshown).

'I'he terminal ofthe starter motor solenoid may be connected to thebinding post or contact 45 so that after the contacts 40 and 41 haveengaged by reason of the movement of the slide bar 9 carrying the latchlever 25 into engagement with the switch arm 35, the contacts 44 and 45may be engaged thereby closing a suitable circuit through the storagebattery, starter motor solenoid and returned through a suitable groundconnection whereupon starting of the engine occurs and operates thegenerator of the motor vehicle producing current to oppose the storagebattery current and neutralize the solenoid 21. Upon neutralization ofthe solenoid 2l, the suction created by the internal combustion enginein the intake manifold will create suction in the chamber 55 therebydrawing downwardly upon the diaphragm 54 and causing the pivoted latchlever 25 to move out of engagement with the notch 18 of the slide bar 9.This movement allows the complete movement of the slide bar 9 relativeto the latch lever 25 without affecting the same or without having anyeffect upon the switches including the contacts 40, 41, 44 and 45. Astop 66 may be provided in the housing 5 for engaging the latch lever 25and guiding the same in its up and down movement while at the same timeholding it into engagement with the insulating block 39 therebypreventing vibration of the arm 35 to an undue extent.

For a consideration oi the operation of the device, it will be assumedthat the slide bar 9 and latch lever 25 are in their respectivepositions, also the switch contacts 40, 41, 44 and 45. These positionsare maintained when the motor vehicle upon which the device is attachedis parked or at a standstill without the engine running. It will beassumed that the operator of the motor vehicle desires to start theengine of the motor vehicle whereupon he depresses the usual acceleratorfoot pedal which causes the movement of the slide bar 9 toward the.right against the tension of the coil spring l5. Such movement causesthe travel of the latch lever 25 in the same direction whereupon thelatch lever 25 will engage the free end 38 of the switch arm 35 to causethe contact 40 to engage the contact 41. Immediately an electricalconnection is established between the storage battery of the motorvehicle and the solenoid 2l which energizes the solenoid and retains thearmature 22 in the position shown in the drawing by reason of the factthat the armature 22 is attracted by the pole piece 23 and held in itsmost upwardly position thereby holding the latch lever 25 so that thefree end 27 will engage the notch 18 during the continuous travel of theslide bar 9.

Upon continued movement of the slide bar 9 said latch lever 25 causesthe contacts 44 and 45 to close which immediately establishes electricalconnection between the storage battery of the motor vehicle andthestarter solenoid which causes the energization of the electric starterand the resultant starting of the internal combustion engine.

After the engine has been started, the generator thereof producessuiiicient current to neutralize the current passing through thesolenoid 21 which releases the armature 22 and allows the free movementthereof. 4Also upon starting of the internal combustion engine, suctionis created in the intake manifold which is connected through the vacuumchamber 55 thereby lowering the diaphragm 54 against the action of acoil spring 67 which moves the pivoted latch lever 25 downwardly alongwith the armature 22 and connecting rod 24 so that the free end of thepivoted latch lever 25 will move out of engagement with the notch 18.

After the free end 27 of the pivoted latch lever 25 has moved out ofengagement with the slide bar notch 18, the slide bar 9 may be movedfreely without engaging the same for the purpose of accelerating theinternal combustion engine and as long as the internal combustion engineis under its own power the switches including contacts 40, 4l, 44 and 45will remain open but immediately upon stalling of the internalcombustion engine the coil spring 67 will move the armature 22 upwardlyso that the free end 27 of? the pivoted latch lever 25 will engage theslide bar 9 and the engine may be re-started by depressing theaccelerator pedal as before mentioned.

I claim:-

1.. An automatic starter control for motor vehicles comprising a slidebar, a latch lever adapted to engage the slide bar, an electro solenoidfor holding the latch lever in a raised position, an electric switchadapted to be closed by l0 the latch lever and a vacuum operated dia.-

phragm for moving the latch lever downwardly.

2. An automatic starter control for motor vehicles comprising a slidebar adapted to be operated` by one of the motor vehicle controls, a

solenoid having an armature operated thereby, a pivoted latch leversecured to the armature adapted to be held by the solenoid in engagementwith the slide bar, electric switches mounted in the path of thepivotedlatch lever and suction operated means for moving the latch lever out ofengagement with the slide bar.

3. An automatic starter control i for motor vehicles comprising a slidebar having anotch and adapted to be operated by one of the motor'vehicle controls, a solenoid having an armature,

a pivoted latch bar secured to the armature and adapted to have its freeend engage in said slide bar notch, a switch arm in the path of thepivoted latch lever, and vacuum operated means for tripping the pivotedlatch lever.

4. An automatic starter control for motor vehicles comprising 'a casingadapted to be mounted thereon, a slidebar mounted in the upper end ofthe casing, adapted to be operated by one of the motor controls, asolenoid mounted in the lower portion of the casing, a pivoted latchlever adapted to be held in engagement with the slide bar, two sets ofelectric contacts mounted in the path of the pivoted latch lever, andmeans for moving the latch lever out of engagement with the slide barafter one of the sets of contacts has been engaged. v

5. An automatic starter control comprising a casing, a slide bar havinga notch in the upper end of the casing, a solenoid mounted in the lowerend of the casing, a latch lever pivoted to the armature of thesolenoid, a switch arm mounted in the path of the pivoted latch lever,

a pair of contacts carried by the switch arm, a

-pair of stationary contacts to be engaged thereby in successive order,one of said switches being employed in the starter motor circuit, theother set being in circuit with the solenoid, and suction operated meansfor moving the pivoted latch vehicles, a shiftable member adapted to beoplever out of engagement with the slide bar, after the solenoid hasbeen de-energized.

6. In an automatic starter control for motor vehicles, a shii'tablemember adapted to be operated by one of the motor vehicle controls, alatch lever adapted to engage the shiftable member, electro-magneticmeans for retaining said latch lever in its engaged position, a starterswitch and electro-magnet switch mounted in the path of the latch leverto be operated successively and suction operated means for moving thelatch lever out of engagement with the shiftable member after the enginehas started.

7. In an automatic starter control for motor erated by one of the motorvehicle controls, a latch lever adapted to engage with said shiftablemember, electro-magnetic means for holding the latch lever in engagementwith said shiftable member, means operable by the latch lever forclosing the starter motor contacts, means also operable by the latchlever for closing solenoid contacts, engine operated means forcle-energizing the solenoid and suction operated,means for moving thelatch lever out of engagement with the shiftable member whereby saidshiftable member may be free to move without aecting the starter controlfswitch.

8. In an automatic starter control for motor vehicles, a shiftablemember adapted to be operated by an accelerator operating device,starter` motor contacts, means operable by the shiftable member forengaging the starter motor contacts, electro magnetic means for holdingsaid first mentioned means in engagement with said shiftable member andsuction operated means for moving it out of engagement with saidshiftable member whereby the shiftable member may function independentlyof the rst mentioned means.

9. In an automatic starter control for motor vehicles, a shiftablemember adapted to be operated by an accelerator operating device,starter motor switch contacts, a switch arm for said contacts, meansoperable by the shiftable member for closing said contacts,electro-magnetic means for holding the first mentioned means inengagement with the shiitable member, a switch for controlling theelectro-magnetic means also operable by the .rst mentioned means andsuction operated means for rendering the rst mentioned meansinoperative, after the electro-magnetic means has become de-energized.`

i KENNETH R. BLAKE.

